2012 Teacher Incentive Fund Grantees Announced

The U.S. Department of Education announced Friday 35 grants awarded to improve pay structures, reward great teachers and principals and provide greater professional opportunities to teachers in high poverty schools. Winning applicants comprise districts, partnering districts, states, and nonprofits that together serve nearly 1,000 schools in 150 urban, suburban, and rural school districts in 18 states and D.C.

All applicants submitted proposals, developed in part by teachers, that provide opportunities for teacher leadership and advancement, put in place district-wide evaluations based on multiple measures that include student growth, and improve decision-making through better evaluations.

“The Teacher Incentive Fund called on local leaders to engage teachers in influencing the future of the teaching profession,” said Assistant Secretary for the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education Deb Delisle. “Many more districts will benefit tremendously from an investment in scaling up and securing the talents and abilities of effective teachers and principals within their toughest schools.”

The 2012 TIF program encouraged districts to enhance educator compensation systems through one of two models – career ladders or performance-based pay with the option for additional responsibilities. With either model, applicants were able to submit a general proposal or a science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) focused proposal.

Twenty-nine winners received funding to create general, district-wide evaluation systems that reward success and drive decision-making on recruiting, retaining, and providing additional responsibilities to great teachers. Among the 29 projects, two grantees – New York City Public Schools and L.A. Unified School District – will pursue compensation systems based around career ladders. Six will focus on developing and supporting excellent science and math teachers.

The 35 winners were selected from a pool of over 120 applications. Award amounts represent the first 2 years of funding over the 5-year grant period. Continued funding is contingent upon congressional action.

For more information on the TIF program and the 2012 grantees, visit: http://www2.ed.gov/programs/teacherincentive/awards.html

**Core Education is pleased to have served as grant writers for two successful proposals – earning clients more than $60 million. For information on our grant writing and consulting services, please visit http://www.coreeducationllc.com/grants.php